Few celebrity deaths hung over 2025 like the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and wife Michelle Singer, and at the 2026 Oscars, they were remembered with a moving tribute featuring Billy Crystal speaking about their longstanding friendship and iconic films including This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, and more. Crystal also spoke about Reiner and Singer’s legacy of political activism, adding that “it meant everything to him that his work meant something to you.”
“Buddy, what fun we had storming the castle,” Crystal concluded, before being joined on stage by past Reiner collaborators including Michael McKean, Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Demi Moore, Mandy Patinkin, Carol Kane, and Jerry O’Connell. The segment then moved into the full In Memorium tribute to those lost over the last year. It included a breakout segment in which Rachel McAdams paid tribute to Catherine O’Hara and Diane Keaton, as well as Barbra Streisand singing “The Way We Were” in memory of Robert Redford.
Reiner and Singer were found dead in their Brentwood home on December 14th, 2025, a death that had a deep impact on everyone, including Oscars host Conan O’Brien. For more, look back at Reiner’s greatest movies as well as why he was the American everyman.
Billy Crystal honors the late great Rob and Michele Reiner at the 2026 #Oscars alongside stars of his films. pic.twitter.com/yrb1ksSfZe
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